A former spokesman to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, has said that after his interaction with President Muhammadu Buhari during his interview with Arise TV recently, he concluded that the President is in charge of the country.
Mr Buhari had granted an interview with ARISE TV last week Thursday.
Mr Abati was among the team that spoke to the president.
Writing an opinion article culled by TheCable, Mr Abati said the interview proved that Mr Buhari is in the know of things in the country.
According to him, the president “showed no hesitation in restating some of his reported views and taking ownership of them despite the controversial nature of those views”.
“His submission to a media conversation is also a form of protection for his spokespersons. Many have accused Garba Shehu, Femi Adesina and Alhaji Lai Mohammed of speaking for themselves, and not for the President, but we have all seen a President, speaking for himself, whose views do not contradict what his aides have been telling us,” Mr Abati said in an
“Our interview with him also proved the point that there is no doubting the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is effectively in charge. He knows what is going on. And he showed no hesitation in restating some of his reported views and taking ownership of them despite the controversial nature of those views.”
Mr Abati said the interview “has further revealed how divided we are as a nation”.
He, therefore, urged the president to address Nigerians more often.
“Whoever advised President Buhari to grant media interviews last week and also address the nation on Saturday, June 12, did him a big favour. The intensity of media appearance was a good move, even if it came rather late,” he said.
“Every President has his or her own style but deliberately playing possum should not be part of that style. President Buhari should speak more often to Nigerians. He should sit down at Presidential media chats.
“Nigeria is not a feudal system where the aristocrat treats the people with disdain. In a democracy, the man of power is accountable to the people who expect their leaders to continually justify why they must be in power and office.”
